Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer (1915 edition)

This bulletin presents concise species accounts of more than fifty birds common to farm regions, describing habitat, food habits, and economic relations to agriculture. It explains that whether a bird is beneficial or injurious depends chiefly on diet and that systematic stomach examinations were used to determine average food items. The text emphasizes that most land birds eat large quantities of insects—especially during nesting and molting—thereby providing important natural pest control, while many shift to seeds and fruits in winter. It also discusses how habitat alteration can force birds to feed on crops and illustrates these points with practical entries on familiar farm species.